Press-on nails are an almost perfect solution for those looking for a quick, easy, and affordable manicure.
With an adhesive surface, endless shapes and sizes, and trendy designs, press-on nails are a way to give yourself a $100 manicure for $15. They look good, they look real, and they can be applied within 20 minutes while you’re sitting on the couch catching up on your favorite show.
Those who have tried wearing press-on nails know that this story is too good to be true. While all we said above is accurate, there is one little problem: press-on nails have a tendency to pop off at the most inconvenient moments.
Aside from the embarrassment of losing a nail in public, they also bring about other inconveniences – the fear of keeping them in water for too long being one of them. Most press-on nails are supposed to be removed with hot water and soap.
So, if that’s the case, can you shower with press on nails? Yes, you can shower with press-on nails, but you’ll have to make sure you’ve applied them correctly and that you don’t expose them to too much hot water during your shower. If you follow the proper steps, your press-ons will stay put.
In this post, we’re going to give you some tips on how to apply your press-on nails and how to take care of them while you live your life – showering, doing the dishes, etc. – so that they actually last.
Do Press On Nails Come Off In Water?
The reason showering with press-on nails is such a concern for so many people is because most press-ons on the market are specifically designed to be removed by soaking them in hot water with soap for 10-15 minutes.
In fact, one of the benefits of press-on nails over other types of fake nails, like acrylics or gel extensions, is that they don’t require the use of harsh chemicals, like acetone, to remove them. Just soak them in soap and water – and they’re gone!
Naturally, this makes people nervous. If soaking them for 10-15 minutes makes them come off, then how can you prevent them from falling off in the shower?
The important word here is “soak.” Soaking them in water allows the water to get deep under the nail and slowly dissolve the adhesive coating.
When you are showering or washing your hands, you are getting water onto your nails, but not necessarily under them.
Sure, exposure to water has the potential to weaken the adhesive and make your nails a little wobbly. Repetitive exposure to water can make them last only one week instead of two.
So, technically, water does damage the bond between your nail and the press-on nail, however, it cannot be compared to soaking, which is guaranteed to make the nails come off.
Hopefully, this makes you feel a little bit better about wearing your press-on nails in your day-to-day life.
There are some steps you can take to ensure that your nails survive regular handwashing and showering, and it starts with proper application.
Proper Application
How long your press-on nails last is largely dependent on how well you apply them. Following the instructions on your press-on nail packaging is good, but there are a few other tips you should know about that’ll make your nails last longer, especially if you like taking frequent showers.
Prepping Your Nails
Before you apply your press-on nails to your natural nails, you need to make sure your nails are well-prepped.
Prepping includes trimming your nails, cleaning them to remove all dirt, bacteria, and oils, and pushing back cuticles. Here are some basic steps to doing that:
- Trim your nails with a nail clipper – the longer your natural nail, the more opportunity there is for your nail to separate from the adhesive during day-to-day activities.
- File your nails to get rid of any jagged edges that can make the application unreliable.
- Clean your nails with rubbing alcohol – this is very important. A little bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton round helps remove bacteria and oil from your nails, which are two of the worst enemies of press-on nails!
- Push back cuticles – use an orange wood stick (often included in the pack of press-on nails) to gently push back any cuticles on the surface of your nail bed. Not removing them means they’ll continue to grow under your press-on nails and will push the press-on nails off.
Following these steps will ensure that your press-on nails have the best chance of adhering to your nail bed and staying put for longer.
Pick The Right Size
Another super important step is picking the right size for your press-on nails to fit your nail bed perfectly. Spend a little time doing this, and your nails will last much longer.
Your box of press-on nails comes in a wide range of sizes. Keep in mind that your nails can be different sizes on different hands – e.g. don’t expect both your thumbnails to be the same size.
The most important part of the size selection process is to make sure that the fake nail is not wider than your nail bed. If it is, water will get under there and create pockets that will make your nails pop off.
If you can’t find a perfectly sized faux nail, it’s better to go with one that is slightly smaller than your nail bed.
Using A Little Glue
Yeah, we know, the whole reason you bought press-on nails is that you didn’t want to deal with a messy glue application.
But if you want your nails to last through multiple hot showers, adding a little bit of nail glue to your application process will be an absolute game-changer!
Nail glue doesn’t get dissolved in warm water and soap as easily as the adhesive on press-on nails, so this step is crucial to making your press-ons last in the water.
Simply dap a little dot of nail glue on the surface of your nail bed and a little bit on the back of your press-on nail before you apply it.
For a visual tutorial on how to properly apply press-on nails, take a look at this video on Faye In The City on YouTube.
Shower Mindfully
Now that you’ve properly applied your press-on nails, they should feel pretty secure. You can feel free to expose them to water, as long as you are mindful of the following things:
Wait A Few Hours
Plan your day so that you’re not jumping into the shower immediately after applying your press-ons. Wait at least 3-4 hours after application to expose your nails to water.
The adhesive and nail glue need a little bit of time to fully solidify. In the meantime, you can use hand sanitizer to keep your hands clean and avoid doing any kind of chores involving hot water.
Keep Showers Short
Keeping showers under 10 minutes will ensure that the bond between your nailbed and your press-ons won’t get weaker.
This goes without saying, but you should also avoid taking baths while you wear your press-on nails.
Avoid Hot Water
Hot water can make your skin and nails expand and move around, it softens the adhesive, and makes your faux nails more flexible. All of those things result in your press-on nails being a little less stable and a lot more likely to start coming off.
If possible, keep your shower water a little cooler than usual. As a bonus, cool water will make your hair look smoother and shinier. Win-win!
Don’t Scrub Your Scalp
If you’re washing your hair, it’s natural to scrub your scalp with your nails while you’re massaging your shampoo into your hair.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to avoid that while wearing your press-on nails. When you massage your scalp, you put additional pressure on your nails. And since your nails might already be vulnerable due to being engrossed by soap and water, it’s best to avoid putting any extra pressure on them.
Another reason to be extra careful during your hair washing is that strands of hair can get caught under the press-on nails and cause pulling and tugging on the nails. This can result in your nails prematurely coming off.
Wear Plastic Gloves
If you’re really serious about keeping your press-on nails for longer, consider using plastic gloves anytime you shower, do the dishes, or do any other water-intensive activities.
Sure, you might look like a crazy person, but who’s to judge?
Wearing gloves in the shower will prevent water and soap from getting onto your nails. It also allows you to massage your scalp without worrying about any hairs getting under your nails.
You can use disposable plastic gloves that come in packs of 100, or you can invest in a reusable pair. We’ve heard of some people wearing finger covers to protect their nails, and that seems to work well, too.
Final Thoughts
Press-on nails have their advantages and disadvantages. Taking precautions while showering or otherwise exposing them to water is one of their biggest disadvantages.
But with proper application and some clever showering hacks, your press-on nails could last as long as gels or acrylics at a fraction of the cost!
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